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D. T. BLACKMON TIRE HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed July 9, 1927 April21, 1931 D. T. BLACKMON %2 .,t mm S Re m 8 .iv

April 21, 1931, TIRE HANDLING MAQHINE Original Filed July 9, 1927 D. T.BLAC ZKMON April 21, 1931. TIRE HANDLING MA HINE Re. 18,050

or i i nal Filed July 9, 192'? s Sheetg-Sheet s Reisaued Apr. 21, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DE WITT T. BLACKMON, OF COLUMBIA, SOUTHCAROLINA TIRE-HANDLING MACHINE Original No. 1,697,708, dated January 1,1929, Serial No. 204,571, filed July 9, 1927. Application for reissuefiled February 13, 1930. Serial No. 428,252.

An object of the invention is the provision of a machine for Spreadingthe beads of pneumatic-tire casings such as are now commonly in use, forthe purpose of inspection of, or treatment of, the inside of suchcasing, or for the purpose of assembling a tire tube and casing, as wellas for other purposes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for supportingand rotating a tire casing for similar purposes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of and means forsimultaneously spreading and rotating such tire casing whereby theinspection or treatment or assemblage may be continuous.

' Another object of the invention is the rovision of means forsimultaneously sprea ing and rotating the tire casing with theelimination of any member or members which might interfere with orprevent the ready and continuous insertion of a tube within such cas-Vith these and other objects in View my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,'and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in so which: I s

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine, showing it inosition to operate on a tire casing mounted t ereon.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 0t Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fi ure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the device in positionto receive a casing.

- Figure 4 is an elevation of the left hand end of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the tire casing in section, takenalong the line 55 of Figure 1.

My improved machine comprises a suitable supporting device, such forexample as a frame having supporting legs 1, 2, 3, 4, which support andare braced by horizontal suprt' members 5 and 6. Suitable cross 1 races,8 may be provided, if desired, to add strength and rigidity to thesupport. A supporting member 9 is mounted on each member 5, 6, and eachis securely held in position thereon by any suitable means such as abolt 10, the two supporting means 9 thus being spaced apartsubstantially the same distance as the members 5, 6. Rotatably bolted toeach of these arms 9 is a lever arm 11, as at 12, these arms :11converging together at the front of the machine, that is at the left endof Figure 1 or of Figure 3. The arms 11 project on both sides of thepivot 12, and adjacent the inner ends thereof is mounted a roller 13 foreither manual rotation as by a crank 14 ,which may beremovable, or forautomatic rotation by a pulley 15. The surface of the roller 13 iscoarsely knurled or otherwise suitably roughened to cause it to rotatethe casing; and this roller is shaped to have a greater diameter at itscenter 16 than adjacent its ends 17 for the purpose of aiding to spreadthe tire and present the inner surface thereof for examination ortreatment, and for causing suitable flattening of the casing.

A T-shaped bar having a leg 18 is mounted in bearings 19 suitablysupported on the frame-work, the round ends 20 of the arms of suchT-shaped member being accommodated in said bearings. An arm 21 isconnected to the leg 18 at 22 for slight pivotal movement L with respectthereto, and this arm 21 is also connected to the converged outer endsof the arms 11, and it is suitably attached thereto, for slight pivotalmovement with respect thereto, as by a loose bolt 23. Some movement ofthe arm 21 angularly with respect to the members 18 and 11 may benecessary due to the relative positioning of the pivot points 12, 20, 22and 23, and if adjustment of the length of the arm 21 should benecessary such arm may be provided with a series of spaced holes 24 forthe accommodation of the pivot bolt 23.

A foot lever 24 is suitably pivoted to the frame-work as at 25, andpivoted to such foot lever at 26 is the lever 27, this lever 27 being inturn pivoted to the lever 21 at 28. A means 29 is provided for retainingthe foot lever in lowered position, and this may comprise teeth 30 underwhich the foot lever may be inserted and from which it may be releasedby slight sidewise movement.

Rods 31, 32 are mounted for longitudinal movement in the respectivesupports 33, 34 on the frame parts 5, 6 and on the inner ends thereofthe spreading disks or elements 35, 36, preferably beveled as shown onFigure 2, are so mounted that they will rotate on the rods 31, 32without moving longitudinally thereof. The elements 35 and 36 engage thebeads of the tire and revolve While the tire is rotated. The purpose ofthe elements 35 and 36 is to spread the tire, they are rotatably mountedto prevent dragging on the inner surface and likewise reduce friction toa minimum. A flexible connecting means 37, 38 is suitably connected tothe outer ends of the rods 31, 32 respectively as at 39, 40, and eachsuch flexible connecting means passes around a rotating member 41, 42respectively mounted on supports 43, 44 on the framework. These flexiblemeans, after passing around such rota-ting means, converge toward eachother and are suitably connected as at 45 to the arm 18 of the T-shapedmember previously described. 7

The operation of the'device is as follows: The foot lever 24 being inthe upper or inoperative position as shown in Figure 3, the roller 13will be in lowered position and the flexible members 37 38 will beloose. A tire casing is then placed upon the roller 13 and is leanedtoward the front or left hand end of the machine (as shown on thesamefigure). The spreading disks 35, 36 being positioned adjacent eachother centrally of the machine will then stand over the longitudinalopening along the inner periphery of the tire. The foot lever 24 is thendepressed, thus causing the roller 13 to rise up against the outer sideof the tire as shown on Figures 1 and 2 and such movement of the footlever pulls the flexible members 37, 38 which in turn cause thespreading disks 35, 36 to separate from each other to the positionsshown on Figures 2 and 5. The movement of the inner edges of the tireopening which is along the inner periphery of the tire, to enclose thedisks or elements 35, 36, may if necessary be aided by the hand of theoperator, or the disks 35, 36 may originally be placed in such'closejuxtaposition that they will be between the planes of the walls of theopening, and the beginning of movement of separation of these disks maybe timed to begin after the edges of the disk are well within the tireopening by suitable adjustment of the length of the members 37, 38.

On completion of the downward movement of the foot lever 24-the tirecasing will be in the position shown on Figures 1, 2 and 5 and it mayfind some support, depending on its size, by contacting with theconverging ends of the flexible members which may have smooth surfacesat the points of contact.

The roller 13 is then rotated either by means of the crank 14 or thepulley 15, and this causes rotation of the tire casing which in turncauses rotation of the disks, 35, 36.

As the casing rotates it is spread continuously and progressively andlaid in a somewhat flat portion by the disks and roller, and it may theneasily be inspected or treated in any desired manner. Furthermore, atire tube may easily be inserted into the casing progressively at thispoint as the casing rotates in very little time, there being no membersor parts of the machine passing through the central plane of the casingand through and1 across the casing itself to interfere therewit 1.

\Vhen the downward movement of the foot lever 24 is sufficient to obtainthe proper correlation of parts as described, it is moved slightlylaterally so as to be held in such position by the retaining means 29;andwhen it is desired to remove the casing from the device all that isnecessary is to move the foot lever 24 away from the retaining means andremove the foot therefrom whereby the device will automatically assumethe position of Figures 2 and 3 and the tire may easily be removed.

Due to. the individual features described, as well as to theircorrelation, a casing of any size, whether of balloon or of highpressure type, may be placed on the machine and inspected or treated, ora tube may be placed therewithin, andthe casing or tire may be removedfrom the machine,al1 with great speed and with little effort by theoperator; and for inspection purposesthe slightest defects are madeeasily apparent. Loose cords,stone bruises, rust bruises, blow outs,cuts, nails, tacks, and tack holes become apparent at once even thoughthe tack be hidden within the material of the tire, for; such tack willbe caused to project well above the inner surface due to the shape ofthe roller 13 and the shape into which it forces the casing by itsco-action with the disks 35,36. My improved machine is economic inconstruction and may be operated easily at great speed, the heaviestwork connected therewith being in movin the casing on and off themachine.

t will be noted that the machine can be used conveniently to spread atire so that the inside thereof may be inspected. The machine is adaptedto grip a tire casing between a roller adapted to engage the tread ofthe casing and a pair of elements adapted to en-' gage the tire beadswhereby the tire may be gripped and at the same timespread apart for aportion of its length, and while in this condition may be rotated forprogressively spreading portions of the casingto permit inspection ofthe inside thereof.

Hav'ing described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the'Unit- "ed States isi 1. In a machine of the classdescribed, a roller, rotatably mounted substantially para].- lel disks,means to move said roller towards said disks, means to separate saiddisks, and a means to operate said moving means and said separatingmeans whereby a tire casing will be gripped and flattened between saidroller v and said disks.

2. In a machine of the class described, a single roller, two rotatablymounted substantially parallel disks, means to move said roller towardssaid disks, means to separate said disks, and a. means to operate saidmoving means and said separating means whereby a tire casing will begripped and flattened between said roller and said disks.

3. In a machine of the class described, a roller having a central bulge.rotatably mounted substantially parallel disks, means to move saidroller towards said disks, means to separate said disks, and a means tooperate said moving means and said separating means whereby a tirecasing will be gripped and flattened between said roller and said disks.

4. In a machine of the class described, a single roller having a centralbulge, two rotatably mounted substantially parallel disks, means to movesaid roller towards said disks, means to separate said disks, and ameans to operate said moving means and said separating means whereby atire casing will be gripped and flattened between said roller and saiddisks.

5. In a machine of the class described, a roller, rotatably mountedsubstantially parallel disks, means to move said roller towards saiddisks, means to separate said disks, a means to operate said movingmeans and said separating means whereby a tire casing will be grippedand flattened between said roller and said disks, and means for rotatingsaid roller whereby the casing and disks will be rotated and the tireprogressively flattened.

6. In a machine of the class described, a single roller, two rotatablymounted substantially parallel disks, means to move said roller towardssaid disks, means to separate said disks, a means to operate said movingmeans and said separating means whereby a tire casing will be grippedand flattened between said roller and said disks. and means for rotatingsaid roller whereby the casing and disks will be rotated and the tireprogres sively flattened.

7. In a machine of the class described, a roller having a central bulge,rotatably mounted substantially parallel disks, means to move saidroller towards said disks, means to separate said disks, a means tooperate said moving means and said separating means whereby a tirecasing will be gripped and flattened between said roller and said disks,and means for rotating said roller whereby the casing and disks will berotated and the tire progressively flattened.

rotated and the tire progressively flattened.

9. A machine of the class described comprising a support, a foot leveron said support, arms pivotally mounted on said support, a connectionbetween one end of said arms and said foot lever, a roller rotatablysupported by the other ends of said arms, said roller being symmetricalwith respect to its axis and having a central bulge and a nonslipsurface, shafts mounted on said support, said shafts being opposite eachother and mounted for longitudinal and rotational movement, a disk faston the inner end of each said shaft, and a flexible draft meansconnected to the ends of said shafts and con-. nected to said foot leverwhereby downward movement of said foot lever will cause upward movementof said roller and spreading of said disks.

10. A machine of the class described com-, prising a support, a footlever on said support, arms pivotally mounted on said support, aconnection between one end of said arms and said foot lever, a rollerrotatably supported by the other ends of said arms, said roller beingsymmetrical with respect to its axis and having a central bulge and anonslip surface, shafts mounted on said support, said shafts beingopposite each other and. mounted for longitudinal and rotationalmovement, a disk fast on the inner end of each said shaft, a flexibledraft means connected to the ends of said shafts and connected to saidfoot lever whereby downward movement of said foot lever will cause upward movement of said roller and spreading of said disks, and means torotate said roller whereby said disks and tire casing grasped between.said roller and said disks will be rotated.

ILA machine for continuously rotating an d progressively opening a tirecasing, comprising a roller and rotatably mounted substantially paralleldisks cooperating therewith to grip the casing between them and to openthe casing continuously and progressively as it is rotated, no part ofsaid machine passing across the central plane of the casing within theperiphery of the casing, whereby a tire tube may be progressively andcontinuously thereof as the casing is rotated and opened.

12. A machine for continuously rotating and progressively opening a tirecasing, comprising a roller and rotatably mounted subinserted into thecasing at the opened part stantially parallel separable disks over saidroller and cooperating therewith to grip the casing between them and toopen the casing continuously and progressively as it is rotated, no partof said machine passing across the central plane of the casing Withinthe periphery of the casing, whereby a tire tube I may be progressivelyand continuously inserted into the casing at the opened part 3 thereofas the casing is rotated and opened.

13. A machine for continuously rotating and propressively opening a tirecasing, comprising a single roller having a central bulge and tworotatably mounted substantially parallel separable discs cooperatingtherewith to grip the casing between them and to open the casingcontinuously and progressively as it is rotated, no part of said machinepassing across the central plane of the casing within the periphery ofthe casing, whereby a tire tube may be progressively and continuouslyinserted into the casing at the opened part thereof as the casing isrotated and opened.

14. In a machine of the class described, a

lever, a roller journalled thereon, rotatably mounted elements to engagethe opposite beads of a tire, means to move said elements towards orfrom each other, said lever being pivoted to permit movement of theroller and said elements relative to each other and means to operatesaid lever whereby the tire casing will be gripped between said rollerand said elements.

" 15. In amachine of theclass described, a roller adapted to havethe'tread of a tire casing engaged therewith, rotatably mounted elementsengageable with the beads of the v casing, pull chain means to separatesaid ele- 40 ments whereby the casing will be gripped between saidroller and said elements to thereby open the same for the inspect-ion ofthe inside thereof adjacent the part gripped and means to rotate saidcasing for progressively opening the part gripped.

16. In a machlne of the class described, a lever, a roller journalledthereon and adapted to have the tread of a tire casing engagedtherewith, elements engageable with the inner surfaces of the oppositebeads of the casing, means connected with said lever to separate saidelements Whereb the casing will be gripped between said ro ler and saidelements to thereby open the same for the inspection of the insidethereof adjacent the art gripped and means to rotate said casing orprogressively opening the part gripped.

Des Moines, Iowa, January 10,1930.

DE WITT T. BLACKMON.

